“One could let all these facts and things lie alongside each other like laminations, not like growing cells. This laminated knowledge produced a powerful sense of freedom, truthfulness and even selflessness, [...] She sensed that the idea of lamination could provide both a model of conduct and an aesthetic that might suit herself and prove fruitful. It would, she decided, as in the event it did, take years to work out in the implications” (209-210).
A. S. Byatt, The Virgin in the Garden

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Sincerely, Jane

Because my last post on Janelle Monae was so popular, I thought I would capitalize on that success and post this video of her performing “Sincerely, Jane” live at the Filmore. I know that Progress’s blog written by Beamish mentioned some stuff about Monae, and one of the comments was about this particular. I compared this song to Pink’s “Dear Mr. President” because of the lyrics and the rhetoric behind the song.

Here are some lyrics for you to consider: (they are not the entire lyrics)

Left the city, my momma she said don't come back homeThese kids round' killin each other, they lost they minds, they goneThey quittin' school, making babies and can barely readSome gone off to their fall, lord have mercy on themOne, two, three, four, your cousins is round' here sellin' dopeWhile they're daddies, your uncle is walking round' strung outBabies with babies, and their tears keep burning, while their dreams go down the drain now

Are we really living or just walking dead now?Or dreaming of a hope riding the wings of angelsThe way we liveThe way we dieWhat a tragedy, I'm so terrifiedDay dreamers please wake up, we can't sleep no more

Love don't make no sense, ask your neighborThe winds have changed; it seems they have abandoned usThe truth hurts, and so does yesterdayWhat good is love if it burns bright, and explodes in flames(I thought every little thing had love but uhh)